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Contents

Introduction

According Roller et al (2012) in Contemporary Issues and Theories of Motor Control, Motor Learning, and Neuroplasticity, the production and control of human movement is a process that varies from a simple reflex loop to a complex network of neural patterns that communicate throughout the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). [1]

Motor Control

Definition

Theories of Motor Control

The organization and production of movement is a complex problem, so the study of motor control has been approached from a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, cognitive science, biomechanics and neuroscience. The control of human movement has been described in many different ways with many different models of Motor Control put forward throughout the 19th & 20th Centuries. Motor Control Theories include production of reflexive, automatic, adaptive, and voluntary movements and the performance of efficient, coordinated, goal-directed movement patterns which involve multiple body systems (input, output, and central processing) and multiple levels within the nervous system. Within the field of Neurology many textbooks and researcher recommend adoption of a systems model of Motor Control incorporating neurophysiology, biomechanics and motor learning principles which also considers learning solutions based on the interaction between the patient, the task and the environment. As a therapist it is these key areas that we need to be aware of when planning our interventions. As therapists we can change the environment, or the task in such a way as to enable our oatients to achieve their goals. [3][1]

MOTOR CONTROL THEORIES

AUTHOR

DATE

PREMISE

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Reflex Theory

Sherrington

1906

Movement is controlled by stimulus-response.

Reflexes are basis for movement - Reflexes are combined into actions that create behavior.

Use sensory input to control motor output

Stimulate good reflexes

Inhibit undesirable (primitive) reflexes

Rely heavily on Feedback

Dynamical Systems Theory

Bernstein

Turvey

Kelso & Tuller

Thelen

1967

1977

1984

1987

Movement emerges to control degrees of freedom.

Patterns of movements self-organize within the characteristics of environmental conditions and the existing body systems of the individual.

Functional synergies are developed naturally through practice and experience and help solve the problem of coordinating multiple muscles and joint movements at once.

De-emphasize commands from CNS in controlling movement and emphasize physical explanations for movement.

Movement is an emergent property from the interaction of multiple elements.

Understand the physical & dynamic properties of the body - i.e. Velocity- important for dynamics of movement. May be good to encourage faster movement in patients to produce momentum and therefore help weak patients move with greater ease.

Hierarchical Theories

Adams

1971

Cortical centers control movement in a top-down manner throughout the nervous system.

Closed-loop Mode: Sensory feedback is needed and used to control the movement.

Adaptive, exible motor programs (MPs) and generalized motor programs (GMPs) exist to control actions that have common characteristics.

Higher-level Motor Programs - Store rules for generating movements.

Abnormal Movement - Not just reflexive, also including abnormalities in central pattern generators or higher level motor programs.

Help patients relearn the correct rules for action

Retrain movements important to functional task

Do not just reeducate muscles in isolation

Ecological Theories

Gibson & Pick

2000

The person, the task, and the environment interact to in uence motor behavior and learning. The interaction of the person with any given environment provides perceptual information used to control movement.

Help patient explore multiple ways in achieving functional task → Discovering best solution for patient, given the set of limitations

Systems Model

Shumway-Cook

2007

Multiple body systems overlap to activate synergies for the production of movements that are organized around functional goals.

Considers interaction of the person with the environment.

Goal-directed Behavior - Task Orientated

Identifiable, functional tasks

Practice under a variety of conditions

Modify environmental contexts

Motor Learning

Definition

1. " The process of acquiring a skill by which the learner, through practice and assimilation, refines and makes automatic the desired movement".2. "An internal neurologic process that results in the ability to produce a new motor task". [2]

Theories of Motor Learning

Motor learning is a “set of internal processes associated with practice or experience leading to relatively permanent changes in the capability for skilled behavior.” In other words, motor learning is when complex processes in the brain occur in response to practice or experience of a certain skill resulting in changes in the central nervous system that allow for production of a new motor skill. It often involves improving the smoothness and accuracy of movements and is obviously necessary for developing c; but it is also important for calibrating simple movements like reflexes, as parameters of the body and environment change over time. Motor learning research often considers variables that contribute to motor program formation (i.e., underlying skilled motor behaviour), sensitivity of error-detection processes, and strength of movement schemas. There are many different theories of Motor Learning. [3][1]

MOTOR LEARNING THEORY

AUTHOR

DATE

PREMISE

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Adams Closed Loop Theory

Adams

1971

Closed Loop - Sensory feedback is used for the ongoing production of skilled movement

Slow movements

Relies on sensory feedback (Sherrington)

Blocked Practice

Errors = Bad! Needs to be accurate!

Memory Trace - Initiation of movement

Perceptual Trace - Built up over a period of practice & is the reference of correctness.

Improvements = Increased capability of performer to use the reference in closed loop

Making Sense of Sensory and Motor Control of Human Movement. Dr. Kristen Pickett is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program within the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She received her Masters in Kinesiology and her PhD in Kinesiology, Biomechanics, and Neural Control from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

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